Farmer given fines for 'illegally parking' vintage tractor in London... but he hasn't visited the capital for 45 years

Friday 13 June 2008 16:08 BST

Cloned: Farmer Eric Smart has been given a parking fine for the second time in 18 months and believes his numberplate has been copied

Farmer Eric Smart has been to London once - on a bus 45 years ago.

So the 74-year-old was surprised to receive a fine at his home near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, for parking his vintage tractor in the capital last month.

Transport for London said the penalty for the alleged offence in Wandsworth, 150 miles from his home, had risen to £180 because he had not paid in time.

The vehicle had the registration SWA 525 - the same as Mr Smart's old Massey Ferguson tractor, which he says has not left his barn for 14 years.

It is the second time in 18 months he has been fined for supposedly parking his tractor illegally in London.

Last year, he was told he owed £100 for unloading it in Sloane Square, an area where 4x4 'Chelsea tractors' are often sighted - but Massey Fergusons seldom seen.

It is thought Mr Smart may be the victim of a cloned number plate.

He said yesterday: 'I've run up £30 in phone bills trying to explain to Transport for London that my tractor only has a speed of 15mph and it would take me the best part of two days to get there and back.'

Last year, Kensington and Chelsea council apologised to Mr Smart and told him he did not have to pay after his situation was explained. He hopes he can resolve the second fine, saying he does not even know where Wandsworth is.

Fines: The letters Mr Smart received at his home in Chesterfield... for parking the tractor that has been in his garage for the last 14 years

Fines: The letters Mr Smart received at his home in Chesterfield... for parking the tractor that has been in his garage for the last 14 years

In a letter to him, they said: 'If a penalty charge notice is not paid or contested within 14 days of issue the council will send an enquiry to the DVLA to find out the name and address of the registered keeper of the vehicle.

'In this case, your name and address was notified to us and that is why a notice to owner was posted to you.

'However, it is clear from further investigation that due to a system error your address details were added incorrectly and as you state your vehicle was not parked in the Royal Borough area at the relevant time.'

Mr Smart hopes his second parking fine for the tractor can also be resolved with Transport for London, and is maintaining a sense of humour about the situation.

'The first time it happened there was only one thing I could think of - that the tractor was delivering a bale of hay to Queen's horses and if it got there on time she didn't have to feed them sawdust,' he said.

'This time I just can't think - I don't even know where Wandsworth is.'